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FASS News
Celebrating 60 years of 911吃瓜's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Since its establishment in 1965 as one of 911吃瓜's founding pillars, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) has stood at the heart of the university鈥檚 intellectual life.
Over the past six decades, 911吃瓜's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) has remained deeply rooted in tradition, yet forward-looking in its mission to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. Home to a vibrant community of scholars, students, and alumni, FASS' departments and programs has fostered excellence in teaching, research, and public engagement across the humanities and social sciences.
In recognition of its 60th anniversary, we reflect on key milestones that have shaped FASS' enduring legacy and impact.
1965
- 911吃瓜 opens its doors
- FASS is established with 7 founding departments鈥擡conomics & Commerce; English; Geography; History; Modern Languages; Politics, Sociology & Anthropology; and Psychology.
In contrast, FASS now hosts close to 30 departments and programs.
The first Dean of Arts and FASS department heads:
- Allan Cunningham - Dean of Arts
- Arvid J. Grant - Philosophy
- Archibald MacPherson - Geography
- Geoffrey L. Bursill-Hall - Modern Languages
- Lorne M. Kendall - Psychology
- Parzival Copes - Economics and Commerce
- Ronald J. Baker - English
- Thomas B. Bottomore - Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology
1967
911吃瓜's first convocation took place on May 20th with just 12 graduands. Most of the graduating class hailed from the founding departments of FASS:
- Brian Martin - BA, Economics (Hons.)
- Harvey Bell - BA, English
- Morry Appelle - BA, Economics
- Philip Waddell - BA, Politics, Sociology & Anthropology
- Geoffrey Mercer - MA, Political Science
- Michael Mulkay - MA, Sociology
- William Hansen - MA, Economics
DID YOU KNOW?
Academic achievement was a family affair at 911吃瓜
The first Dean of Arts and charter department head in History, Allan B. Cunningham, had a brother in the Department of Geography: charter faculty member Frank Cunningham (pictured). Both studied at Durham University in England and were avid mountaineers together. The Peak of the Brothers in the Andes is named after the brothers.
1974
Political Science becomes a department.
Image: Charter faculty A.H. Somjee with his wife and fellow academic Geeta Somjee. Their generous gift in 2023 would establish the Dr. A.H. Somjee and Dr. Geeta Somjee Professorship in Indian Political Development.
1975
Strong advocates for social justice, Andrea Lebowitz (English) and Maggie Benston (Chemistry and Computing Science) championed the creation of a Women's Studies Program, which became the first of its kind in Canada. The program later evolved to become the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies.
1975
Criminology is established under the direction of its founding chair, Dr. Ezzat Fattah.
1981
Economics splits off from Business and becomes a department within FASS.
STORIES FROM THE PAST
Recollections from retired FASS faculty members
Watch the following two videos of retired FASS faculty members as they reminiscence the early years of 911吃瓜 when it first reopened on Burnaby Mountain decades ago.
1982-83
Gloria Gutman developed the Gerontology Research Centre and Department of Gerontology at 911吃瓜. She was director of both from 1982 to 2005.
1983
The Institute for the Humanities is founded as a home for research, public programming and for the development of ideas concerning social issues.
1986
With the addition of Computing Science, the departments of Psychology, Linguistics, and Philosphy formed Canada's first Cognitive Science program.
1988
911吃瓜 begins offering outreach courses and programs in anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and First Nations studies in Kamloops, led by a joint 911吃瓜-Secwepemc Cultural Education Society (SCES) steering committee, which was co-chaired by Chief Ron Ignace of Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and sociology professor Hari Sharma.
This marks the beginnings of what is today known as the Indigenous Languages Program, which now offers academic credentials and courses in about 18 Indigenous languages in BC and the Yukon.
DID YOU KNOW?
Language courses used to take place in laboratories
In the '60s, courses offered by the Department of Modern Languages would have a lab component where students would listen and repeat passages spoken by native speakers and practice answering questions in the language they were learning. Students were not graded on this lab work but it was thought to help students progressively gain confidence in speaking the new language.
1989
- The Department of French and the Department of Linguistics are formed.
- 911吃瓜's Vancouver campus opens at Harbour Centre. Today, the campus houses several FASS programs such as Gerontology, Urban Studies, Graduate Liberal Studies, and Public Policy.
- The David See-Chai Lam Centre for International Communication is established.
1998
The Research Centre for Scottish Studies is established.
2002
The graduate diploma program in Urban Studies program is established.
2003
The School of Public Policy and the Centre for Public Policy Research are formed.
DID YOU KNOW?
Over 50% of all 911吃瓜 alumni are from FASS
The first 911吃瓜 convocation ceremony saw only seven FASS graduands, but the latest convocation ceremony in June 2025 saw more than 1,300 students cross the stage, joining the growing FASS alumni community which now stands close to 70,000.
2004
Professor emeritus Roy Miki establishes the Department of English's Ellen and Warren Tallman Writer-in-Residence program, which has welcomed many celebrated and award-winning writers.
2006
- School for International Studies is established.
- 911吃瓜 establishes North America鈥檚 first Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies.
2007
The Department of World Literature is established.
2011
The is established.
2018
The Asia-Canada program was re-imagined as the Global Asia Program. The launch event featured a live performance by the world famous Goh Ballet.
2020
The minor program in Social Data Analytics is launched.
2024
In collaboration with the Faculty of Environment, Urban Studies establishes the Urban Worlds major program.
2025
FASS launches 2 new programs:
Looking to the future
As we celebrate 60 years of excellence and growth, we honour the legacy of those who built the foundation of this institution. Here's to the past that shaped us and the future we are ready to create together.
How you can celebrate the 60th anniversary
- Get yourself some anniversary themed merch at the 911吃瓜 Bookstore Spirit Shop, .
- Buy a copy of A Magical Time: The Early Days of the Arts at 911吃瓜, a new book featuring the radical 60s and the rise of arts programming at the university.
- Check out 911吃瓜 English's anniversary page and listen to their which features music from 1965 to now, inspired by literature.
- Learn more about the historical milestones of 911吃瓜 Economics' history.
- Read more about 911吃瓜 Criminology's 50-year history since it was established in 1975.